UT MARTIN PARTICIPANTS EAGER FOR 2017 COLLEGE NATIONAL FINALS RODEO

June 5, 2017

MARTIN, Tenn. – Seven representatives from the University of Tennessee at Martin are set for the 69th annual College National Finals Rodeo, which takes place on June 11-17 at the Casper Events Center in Casper, Wyo.

Referred to as the “Rose Bowl” of college rodeo, the CNFR is a weeklong event where the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association crowns individual champions in saddle bronc riding, bareback riding, bull riding, tie down roping, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing, breakaway roping and goat tying. Over 400 participants from more than 100 schools from the NIRA’s 11 regions compete for the chance to rope and ride at the CNFR.

The UT Martin men’s team will have four representatives while the women’s squad had a trio of members qualify for the CNFR. Houston Herbert (bareback riding), Ryan McDaniel (bull riding), Ross Mitchell (team roping – header), Douglas Rich (team roping – heeler), Madison Crow (barrel racing), Nealey Dalton (barrel racing) and Kenzley Wilson (breakaway roping) will each don the orange UT Martin rodeo vests while competing alongside the best collegiate cowboys and cowgirls in the nation.

The 2017 CNFR will mark the fourth career national postseason appearance for Dalton while Rich will take part in his third career CNFR. The remaining five UT Martin representatives (Herbert, McDaniel, Mitchell, Crow and Wilson) will be making their CNFR debuts.

The official CNFR draws were released last week and can be found at the link above. Live action from Wednesday, June 14 through Saturday, June 17 can also be viewed live on ESPN3 at the link found at the top of the webpage. Daily results and updates will be available on the official CNFR website at the link above.